Aeroplane flying-machine.



G. E. WINTERROS.

AEROPLANE FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION Hum 3111.29, 1909.

1,039,345, Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR U. E. WINTERROS.

ABROPLANB FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1909.

1,039,345, Patnted Sept. 24, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. FL l5.

c. affilam.

- WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

v G. E. WINTBRROS.

AEROPLANB FLYING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1909.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 INVENTOR WITNESSES CLAES ERIC WINTERROS, F TAKOMA'IPARK, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AEROPLANE FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Application filed January 29, 1909. Serial No. 475,017.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAEs Euro WINTER- nos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak and Tulip avenues, Takoma Park, Washington, District of Columbia, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane F lying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to an aeroplane, which consists of two wings, one in front of i the other-projecting from a backbone lengitudinal main frame, and adj oined by their tips at each side.

The object of my invention is: 1. To obtain an aeroplane flying apparatus, which balances itself completely in the air, both sidewise and lengthwise, only through its correct form, without any mechanical help. 2. To apply a universal steering arrangementto such an apparatus, consisting of a steering bar universally jointed in front and connected by means of ropes or their substitutes with a similarly jointed cross rudder in the rear of the machine.

3. To combine such mechanical help with wheels for steer ing and balancing on the ground. 4. To provide a universally jointed propeller shaft in the center of the elongated hub of the rudder. 5. To provide an inclosed in-i habitable framework with such correct form that it will give the least friction against the air. 6. To provide a triangular lattice frame at the top and another at the bottom in such a framework. 7. To apply a counterbalancing bar in front of the main frame, moved back and forth by a mechanical arrangement. 8. To apply on each side of the main frame an elongated hollow body, which forms an air-intake in front and an airoutlet in the "rear through the speed of the apparatus or the suction of the propeller,

'in order to create a cold air circulation in a chamber, surrounding the propulsion motor. 9. To apply a wing-supporting bar at each side, with a rigging above from a point at the top of the main frame, and with a rigging below from a point at the bottom of the same. 10. To apply vertically attached runners at each side under the wings, as a support, whenthe apparatus is resting or moving on the ground.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description and the acompanying drawings, forming part ereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an aeroplane,

structional basis for the form of the wings.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the'same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same apparatus. Fig. 4 is a )lan view of an aeroplane constructed upon our interlaced ellipses analogical with the circles in F i". 1, but with their short axis in a longitudinal position with the aeroplane. Fig. 5 is an aeroplane constructed upon four similarly arranged ellipses, but with their long axis longitudinally with the apparatus. Fig. 6 shows a side View of an apparatus with a specially constructed lattice framework. Fig, 7* is a section of the same framework. Fig. 8 is a cross rudder to be placed in the rear as a main feature in a universal steering arrangement. Fig. 9 is a side view of the same cross-rudder forming a housing for the universally jointed rear end of the main shaft, which' carries the propeller. Fig. 10 is an end view of such a universal oint. Fig. 11 1s a side view of a counterbalancing arrangement in front of the frame. Fig. 12 shows the front steering fork joint at its upper united end. Fig. 13 shows an inclined runner at each side. Fig. 14 is a cross-section of a bent-up side fin arrangement for the apparatus as a toy. Fig. 15 is a plan sectional view,showing arrangement of motor-.cooling-chamber and canals.

Referring to the drawings: In Fig. 1 a is a circle having its center in the middle part of the front border of the front wing, or in the periphery of a second circle Z), which similarly has its center in the middle part of the front border of the rear wing or in the pcriphery of circle a. c is a circle having its center half way between the centers or circles a and b and said circle 0 having such a radius that all three circles will intersect each other in the same points, at which points the tips of the wings are joined together. A fourth circle or are of a circle .(Z is again laid outwith its center in the point farthest aft of the rear circle I), or at the point I) where the middle line intersects the periphery of same; and the radius is such that this circle also intersects the other circles at the points where the tips of the wings are joined.

6 is a backbone or main frame which may have any suitable form or'shape for any special purpose of the apparatus. In Fig. 1 it is represented in the shape of a flat fish.

ing as a keel against side motion, and admitting of a comfortable place in its middle portion for passengers in upright position, because of its ample height in proportion to its width. From this frame projects now the front wing f and the rear wing g, as well as its rear part being shaped into a tail k.

The front border of the front wing follows the intersected periphery of the circle I), and the front border of the rear wing follows the intersected periphery of circle a. The aft border of the front wing follows further the intersected periphery of circle 03, and the aft border of the rear wing one-half of the periphery of circle 0, making it a half circle.

1: is a balancing bar with a counterweight 22in its front end and is, k, are two longitudinal bars or beams attached to the wings, and shaped according to the longitudinalcurvature of same in the perpendicular direction. From a point e on the top of frame 0 (Figs. 1 and 2) are rigged four ropes or the like 6 down to four corresponding points 70 on the Wings. And from a point e in the bottom are rigged four ropes e" up to the same points lc 'underneath the wings. I

In Fig. 3 the heavy dotted curved lines f and 9" indicate the longitudinal perpendicular curvature of the wings f and 9 respectively in their middle line. And line llr-O represents the horizontal fin of the tail h.

' 71. (Fig. 3) are vertical fins inthe said tail 71. for steering in side direction. The fine dotted line a" bet-ween the wings (Fig. 3) indicates the resultant aerial wave line through action of the front wing,-and h0 is the resultant wave line through the combined action of both wings, when the apparatus is moving in. a straight direction; and in such acase said line 7 L0 is also closely fol:

lowed by the horizontal fins or fin h. Same line h-0 represents therefore also an elongated hub or backbone of the tail, from which the horizontal and vertical fins are protruding. In this shape, with the back bone main frame, thought of as a thin bar of a suitable light material, provided with a necessary verticalfin surface, to act againstside motion. the apparatus may be applied as a toy to balance itself and soar in the air in an inclined course downward by the power of gravitation. Such a fin and tail a is seen in transverse section in Fig. 14: and

stituted. The balancing in up and down direction in this case being provided for by the correct shape of the wings themselves, as before mentioned.

In Fig. 4 the circles a, b, 0 and (Z are transformed to four ellipses a, 79, c and 03, said ellipses having their longitudinal axis sidewise, so as to make the general form of the wings project farther out in side direction than in Fig. 1; thus increasing the car-- rying capacity of the apparatus; and it can therefore be made to fly at a lower speed by making the apparatus shorter for, the same carrying capacity.

In Fig. 5 the circles a, Z), c, d are again transformed into four ellipses a 1), c and d Said ellipses in this case having their longitudinal axis lengthwise of the apparatus, thus making the generalform of the wingsproject less sidewise than in Fig. 1. The result will now be to decrease the carrying capacity of the apparatus, or the velocity can thus be increased by making the apb-0 of the circle (Z in Fig. 1. It is readily seen that the construction is otherwise the same, as is represented by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, its pro ortions only changing according to the di. erent pro ortions of the four ellipses as constructional guide lines.

In Figs. 3 and 6 Z is a fork, similar to the front fork in a bicycle, turning upon a ivot Z at its upper end inside the frame 6. Fig.

'12 shows this pivot in lar e size.) To this same pivot is also hinged y a forked joint the steering bar m, in such a way, that the hinge Z in combination with Z causes the steering bar'to be universally jointed in its front end; and the steering fork, having also a forked joint, preferably fitted inside the jolt of the steering bar,'is in like manner hinged to the same pivot, so as to turn or pivot horizontally with the bar, as well as bein able to oscillate somewhat vertically on t e eye or joint Z in longitudinal direction with the apparatus. n is a vertically and horizontally acting rudder, having an elongated hub in its center, a suitably constructed cross-bar n '0 in front, which extends rearward so as to produce "ertical and horizontal fins 72 (Figs. 8 and 9) This rudder can be attached direct by its front end to a universal joint at the point a in Figs. 2 and 3 for steering and balancing only, or it may be attached, also,,

indirectly with" a universally jointed propeller shaft through its hub 11*, acting as a sleeve; around said shaft; and the universal joint a (Fig. 6) between the front part 25 and the rear part 8 of the propeller shaft serves thus as a substitute for the universal joint at the pointu, as before described. The universaljoint, in larger scale in Fig.- 10, may thus represent either of two universal joints, one at the point a, as in Fig; 3, or another 16 as in Fig. 6. In this latter case the rudder n is prevented from turning by a fork v suitably fastened to the rear end of the main frame e (Figs. 6 and 8). It is clear also without further drawing that of two universal joints, as represented in Fig. 10, one can be placed inside the other in the same, transversal plane (the outer stationary and the inner turning), by making the ring y in the outer one large enough to admit the action of the inner joint turning and swinging in the same plane. Thus, by jointing the outer one to the main frame e and the rudder n and the inner one to shafts .s' and t, as before described, the rudder n will in this case also become the means of steering or guiding the shafts. The cross bar in front ofthe rudder a may project either in two arms from the hub M, as in Fig. 8, dividing itself further so as to form four eyes a in rectangular position to each other; or, four arms may project directly from the hub n so as to form four similar eyes a in rectangular position to each other as is represented in Fig. 2. 0, 0, Figs. 3 and 6, are preferably four pulleys (may also be bell cranks) placed inside the main frame in rectangular position to each other corresponding suitably to the rectangular position of the eyes n or 12., when seen in end direction of the apparatus (Figs. 2 and 6). The steering bar on in front and the cross bar n0 of the rudder n are joined together as follows z-Four ropes p or their substitutes are radially fastened or joined together by one end to the steering bar m. Each one is further bent and stretched over pulleys 0 or their substitutes from which they run about parallel, and by the other end they are suitably fastened to the eyes n or a of the rudder n. The fastening is arranged in such a way that, when the steering bar pointsparallel with the axis of the front end of the apparatus, the rudder n, should point parallel with its rear end, or with the resultant aerial wave k-o, as before mentioned (Figs. 3 and 6). On the end of the steering bar m is placed a counterweight m (Fig. 6) of such a size that it will perfectly counterbalance the tail or rudder with its fins h h etc., (Figs-'8 and 9). A substitute for this counterwei ht may consist of a spiral spring or t e like attached from the bottom of the gondola up to the steering barm. If,

' as is mentioned above, the steering bar m is adjusted to a direction parallel to a-straight course followed by the apparatus in the air,

it is readily seen that in turning the bar in any -d1rect1on, horizontally or vertically, or

at any angle between, the cross rudder n will always turn the opposite way, or which is the same::The apparatus will always tend to adjust its course according to the direction pointed out by the steering bar m and it must be pointed out that it is only by arranging the ropes 7) or substitutes angularly at about 90 over pulle s 0 or substitutes and then radially attaching the ends to the end of the steering bar that the above preeminent advantage of having the bar pointing in the direction desired is attained. When traveling in the air by an aeroplane, situations will arrive when there is not much time .for reflection; and it is therefore most important to have only one manipulation to think about: that of putting the steering bar in the direction desired. If now a wheel Z is placed in the fork Z in front and another wheel l0 in the rear of the gondola frame, it is seen that the apparatus can also be steered and balanced by the same steering arm an even on the ground, after the same principle as a bicycle.

In Fig. 13 a longitudinal cross-section of the wings at In (Fig. 1) is indicated by the dotted lines f and In this figure line 3 represents the ground. 7.: is further the longitudinal supporting bar of the wings, as shown in Fig. 1, and indicated in Fig.2. 7: is an inclined runner, fastened or hinged at its front'end to bar It. Said runner is again connected to a strut bar, or its substitute, between it and the bar 70. The rear end of the runner 70 is curved and made of such a size that it will produce a springy resistance against the ground. One such runner bein provided at each side, the apparatus wil thus be prevented from turning over. And at the same time (if made of suitable flexible material) they will admit of a certain swinging sidewise of the apparatus, which may be necessary for the steering. Further: at point is by its middle part is fastened a wire, or its substitute, is (Fig, 2), and, after being stretched, the same wire is fastened by one end to the main frame, and by the other end to the joined tips of the wings, thus servin as a rigging also for the part of .the wings outside of the supporting bars 7:. 'In this condition the apparatus can be used as a coaster on wheels to slide down a hill and eventually rise in the air. Or by substituting runners for the wheels it can be use for the same purpose on ground covered b snow.

In Fig. 1.1, 6 represents part of the gondola frame, i'the counterweight in front, and z" the counterweight bar to be moved back and forth accordmg to possible changes of center of gravity of the apparatus, or differences in the lifting pressure on the wings by different speed. Said bar is further provided with teeth, or their substitutes,.to: which the wheelv g, .or its substitute,

' 7 an endless chain, or its substitute, Q3.

, further placed a pedal 1-.

or the like, havin is engaged. Concentrically with the wheel 9 on the same shaft isplaced a sprocket wheel or 1ts substitute, 9'. 'Farther back on a double crank shaft 1- is laced another sprocket wheel 9 or its substltute. On and between both wheels and q is now placed On each of the two cranks on the shaft 1* is nism by swinging the steering barm in the direction desired, and by the feet, the

counterbalancing, by turning the shaft 1' in V opposite directions, thereby moving the bar back and forth as before mentioned. As

a substitute for the chain a suitable conical gearing may be used. (The main shaft 2.,

running in suitable bearin s, may be driven by any/ suitable motor,e1ther directly by cranks or by any suitable gearing).

In Fig. 1 (on each side of the gondola frame) e represents anelongated hollow body forming an air-intake in its front end' and an air-outlet in the rear, through the v speedof the apparatus or by the suction of the propeller, in order to create a cold air clrculation ina chamber, surrounding the propulsion motor as a cooler; said chamber communicating with said inlets and outlets by suitable canals, according to different kind of motors. In Fig. 15 one way of arranging such a cooling chamber isshown in which the circle 0; represents a horizon tally revolving motor, and o a gearing be'-- I tween-motor shaft and propeller shaft 25.

0 6?? are the'two inlet canals started by the front end of e on each side of the main hollow body/e of the apparatus. Said canals I communicate further with a chamber a around the motor, and said chamber'inits turn" branches out intotwo canals e which form the air outlets at the rear end ofefi.

The direction- -of the current is shown by arrows'e Chambers 6" between the. outside walls of canals e and e and the walls of 6 may preferably be used as oil tanks to provide fuel for the motor or motors. This chamberwis not shown in the drawm s, because any kindof suitable motor, as; efore said, maybe used, which in difierentways' may be surrounded by such a chamber; The hollow bodiese will readily serve as cold 'air conductors for any kind of such motors g its inlet and outlet with the said chamber.

In- Figs. 6 and. 7 e, 6

only by joinin ande" are three longitudinal bent bars atthe topbf the gon- (9" can also be dola placed in a triangular position to each other, as in Fig. 7 At certain distances there are placed suitably attached strut bars a between the said longitudinal bars, and diagonally between the joints are stretched, by suitable means, wires or their substitutes, e. A similarframe 6 is also provided at the bottom of the gondola, the two thus forming two' strongly constructed lattice frames; And the two ends are suitably attached to each other and accommodated to form the ends of the main or gondola frame. Between the said frames are laced perpendicular bars 6 or their substltutes; and all may be,covered by a suitable, light and thin, material, thus forming Walls of the gondola, which may be shaped similarly to the frame body represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Windows may also be provided for at suitable places in the frame, as well as other conveniences, as doors etc. In this state, (with motor connected for action) the apparatus is now equipped for elevating itself from the ground or an'especially prepared starting place, by being put in forward mo tion at the necessary speed by the action of the propeller. And, b traveling thus in bicycle fashion as be ore mentioned the startin" will be rendered easy because shocks from the ground against the wheels, placed in the center of the apparatus, act as centrally as possible against the frame.

To protect the front wheel from shocks when the apparatus is alighting on the ground the fork l is provided with a diagonal Z fastened by one'end in the downwardly extended steering fork at If, and by the other end to a'spiral spring 1 and this again stretched and fastened to a point Z in the front end of the main frame (such spiral spring arrangement also for the hind wheel is indicated in Fig. 3). The fork.l descends on both sides of the bar e in the lower main frame (Figs. 6 and 7) and is of such width between thekbranches that a suitable clearside of said branches of the fork. In the .1 2 ance is left between the bar and the inner main frame is further provided a lateral y surface on each outer side of the fork, so as to become aguide longitudinally against the outside of' the fork And because of the suflicient lateral. space between the insides of the fork and the bar a? thefork may turn sufiioiently; and it may also swing somewhat backward. A. shock Wlll thereby be reduced toa minimum by the counteraction of the spring Z". a

It is thus seen, that. Fig. 1 representsm its broadest meaning the apparatus, balancing. itself only through the form of its wings pro jecting from a hollow inhabitable main frame e; and Figs. 2 and 3 the same developed to a glider or coaster with steering and balancing mechanism applied for traveling on the ground and in the air. And in Fig. 6 the same developed to a motor driven flying apparatus, with steering and balancing arrangement as before mentioned; as well as Figs. 4 and 5 the same developed to a toy soarer, balancin itself throu h the form of its wings, as before described. In this'last case the hindmost fin u, as in Fig. 4 and indicated in cross-section in Fig. 14, may be done away with, for special purposes, the front fin u between the wings giving the necessary side thrust against the air, if made large enough, for guiding and steering when the apparatus is in motion.

Having thus described the nature and scope of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame, two supporting wings, one in front of the other, branching out laterally from the front and rear parts of the main frame, with the front border of the forward wing laid. out on a curve bending backward, and the front'border of the rear wing laid out on an equal curve bending forward, and the connections of the two Wings with each other in a tipat each side being produced, respectively, by the rear border curves gradually approaching g and uniting at the said tips, as and for the purpose described.

2." In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame, two supporting wings, one in front of the other, branching out laterally from the front and rear parts of the main frame, with the front border of the forward wing laid out on an elliptical arc bending backward and the front border of the rear wing laid out on an equal elliptical arc bending forward, and the connections of the two wings with each other in a tip at each side being produced, respectively, by the rear border curves gradually approaching and uniting at the said tips, as and for the purpose described.

3. In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame, two supporting wings, one in front of the other branching out laterally from the front and rear parts of the main frame and joined at their lateral tips on each side, an extension rearward of said frame formed into an elongated central body, and vertical and horizontal steering fins projecting from said body, as and for the purpose described.

4. In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame shaped into a hollow body so as to form a living compart ment for passengers and crew, and two supporting wings", one in front of the other branching out laterally from the frontan rear parts of the main frame, with the front border of the forward wing laid out on a curve bending backward and the front border of the rear wing laid out on a curve bending forward, so as to connect with each other and with the gradually approaching rear borders of the said wings in one tip at i each side, as and for the purpose described.

5. In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame formed into a hollow body in shape of a fiat fish, and two supporting wings, one in front of the other branching out laterally from the front and rear parts of the main frame, with the front border of the forward wing laid out on a curve bending backward and the front border of the rear wing laid out on a curve bending forward, so as to connect with each other and with the gradually approaching rear borders of the said wings in one tip at each side, as and for the purpose described.

6. In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame shaped into a hollow body so as to form a living compartment, two supporting wings one 1n front of the other branching out laterally from the front and rear part of the main frame, with the front border of the forward wing laid out on a curve bending backward and the front border of the rear Wing laid out on a curve bending forward so 'as to connect with each other and with the gradually approaching rear borders of the said wings in a tip at each side, one supporting wheel with hearings in the rear central part of the said main frame, and a supporting steering fork serving as hearing for a supporting steering wheel and pivoting in the forward central part of the said main frame, so as to be able to steer the aeroplane on the ground by said steering fork in bicycle fashion, as and for the purpose described.

7. In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame shaped into a hollow body so as to form a living compartment, two supporting wings one in front of the other branching out laterally from the front and rear parts of the main frame, with the front border of the forward wing laid out on a curve bending backward ,and the front border of the rear wing laid out on a. curve bending forward so as to connect with each other and with the gradually approaching rear borders of the said wings in a joint at each side, a number of rigging wires or substitutes attached by one end in the highest middle part of the mainframe and by the other nd in suitable points of the wings, and another number of rigging wires or substitutes attached by one end to the lowest middle part of the main frame and by the other end in suitable points of the wings, as and for the purpose described. h

8. In an aeroplane flying machine, a. backbone longitudinal main frame shaped into a hollow body so as to form a living compartment, two supporting wings one in front of the other branching out laterally from the front and rear parts of the main frame,

with the front border of the forward wing laid out on a curve bending backward and the front border of the rear wing laid out on a curve bending forward so as to connect with each other and with the gradually v approaching rear borders of thesaid Wings in joint at each side, a number of "longitudinally supporting beams at each. side extending from the front border of thefront wing to the rear border of the rear wing and attached in suitable points to said wings, as and for the purpose described.

9. In an aeroplane flying machine, a backbone longitudinal main frame shaped into with each other and with the gradually appreaching rear borders of the said wings in a joint at each side, one supporting runner at each side attached to said wings and suitably rigged by wires or substitutes attached by their middle part to the runner, by one end to the main frame and by the other end to suitable points of the wings, as and for the purpose described. I I

10. In an aeroplane flying machine a backbone longitudlnal main frame shaped into a hollow body so as to form a living compartment, two "supporting wings one in front of the other branching out laterally from the front and rear arts of the main frame, with the front bor er of the forward wing laid out on a curve bending backward and the front border of themearwing laid out on a curve bending forward so as to connect with each other and with the gradu'ally approaching rear borders of the said wings 1n a joint at each side, a horizontal steering bar vertically jointed by its front end to a supporting steering fork in the the main frame,

from the front and rear osaeaa front middle part of the main frame, four block pulleys or substitutes situated ,in a vertical transverse plane with the rear end of the steering bar, a vertically and hori: zontally finned steering-rudder universally jointed by its front end tothe rear end of end of said steering bar, so as to produce a universal steering of the aeroplane when traveling in the air, by the motion of said steering bar, as and for the purpose described. I a

11. In an aeroplane flying machine, a

backbone longitudinal main frame shaped into a hollow body so as to form a l'ivmg compartment, two supporting wings onein front of the other branching-out laterally arts of the main frame, with the front bor er of the forward wing laid out on a curve bending backward and the front border of the rear wing laid out on a curve bending forwardso as to connect with eachother and with the gradually four transverse rudder arms with ends sltuated 1n a vertical transapproaching rear borders of the said wings in a joint at each. side, a 'asolene motor driving a pro eller shaft and placed 1n the hollow part 0 the main frame, an'aircooling chamber around said motor, aefront air inlet to said chamber and a rear air outlet from the same chamber, for cooling the motor by circulation of air through said chamber by the speedof the aeroplane or by the suction of the propeller, as and for the purpose described.

CLAES ERIC/WINTERROS. Witnesses: 4 i

PAUL P: BERTHOND, J. Caom Pnon'rr.- 

